Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B in Ruddervoorde

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1969 at 1642 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TN-ABA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charleroi – London-Gatwick
MSN:
14034
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8530
Captain / Total hours on type:
0.00
Aircraft flight hours:
16723
Circumstances:
The airplane arrived in Charleroi on January 24 and was parked there since. In June, a ferry permit was issued and on July 11, it was decided to ferry the airplane from Charleroi to London-Gatwick Airport. The pilot departed Charleroi-Gosselies Airport at 1551LT. At 1634LT, while at cruising altitude, the engine n°4 suffered vibrations and the pilot decided to shut it down. Three minutes later, the engine n°3 emitted smoke then caught fire. The pilot was able to shut it down but for unknown reason could not feather its propeller. He reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crash landed in a potatoes field. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. The pilot's total flying hours was 8,530 with zero experience on this type of aircraft.
Probable cause:
Failure of two engines in flight due to the non-observation of the procedure published by the manufacturer regarding the engine start-up following a long standstill period.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Olberg: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1969 at 1530 LT
Registration:
N4127B
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wilcox - Phoenix
MSN:
520-31
YOM:
1952
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4100
Captain / Total hours on type:
10.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude in excellent weather conditions, the pilot encountered engine problems. He elected to maintain heading when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a desert area located near Olberg. The aircraft was totally destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Powerplant failure due to spark plug issue,
- Carbon deposit,
- Excessive temperature,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- High OAT,
- Complete engine failure,
- The pilot was aware that the engine were unairworthy,
- The right propeller was found in feathered position,
- The left engine had two fouled plugs.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Corban: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1969 at 0952 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N515VW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Geneva - Basel
MSN:
25-013
YOM:
1968
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1350
Aircraft flight hours:
260
Circumstances:
While descending to Basel Airport in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about navigation problems and requested the permission to climb to 3,500 feet over the Homburg beacon. Due to traffic, the crew was cleared to climb to 2,500 feet only when few dozen seconds later, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. SAR operations were quickly conducted but the wreckage was found three days later, on April 20, by a farmer in an open field located in Corban, some 25 km south of Basel Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Commission has unanimously come to the conclusion that the accident was due to a collision with terrain that occurred during following a missed ILS approach procedure, interrupted due to difficulties of navigation.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Tiley Dove into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1969 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N880JG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04491
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
26000
Captain / Total hours on type:
175.00
Circumstances:
While on a ferry flight from Hawaii to California, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure. He reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the aircraft near a boat approximately 140 miles west of Long Beach. The pilot was quickly rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. At the time of the accident, weather conditions includes sleet and freezing rain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D Skyservant in Sønderborg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1968 at 1944 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7154
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stornoway – Sønderborg
MSN:
4001
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7600
Captain / Total hours on type:
214.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a ferry flight from Stornoway to Sønderborg. On final approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot was killed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Avalon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1968 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N325
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
B127
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Circumstances:
While flying at low height, the pilot lost control of the seaplane that crashed into the sea few dozen yards off Avalon. Few debris were found floating on water but the pilot's body was never found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Delta

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1968 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N303MW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
A-587
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2360
Captain / Total hours on type:
265.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the pilot informed ATC about engine problems and was forced to shut down the right engine and to feather its propeller. He was cleared to divert to the nearest airport when few seconds later, the airplane stalled and crashed in a prairie located in Delta. The pilot was uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Powerplant failure due to piston rings improperly installed,
- Excessive temperature,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Rough terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO.28A-1 in Hamburg

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-IBEM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Helgoland – Hamburg
MSN:
3036
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel Airport, the airplane went out of control and came to rest upside down. The pilot was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Martin 404 in Oxford

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1968 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N251S
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14243
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9500
Captain / Total hours on type:
1400.00
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Oxford-University Airport, the visibility was reduced and the copilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft struck the ground short of runway threshold, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The copilot misjudged distance and altitude on final approach. Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the captain. There were no runway approach lights at the time of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Krasnoyarsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1967 at 1656 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04227
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yeniseysk - Krasnoyarsk
MSN:
184 299 09
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
19305
Aircraft flight cycles:
8764
Circumstances:
The crew completed a cargo flight from Krasnoyarsk to Yeniseysk and was now returning to Krasnoyarsk on a ferry flight. The approach to Krasnoyarsk Airport was started 20 minutes after sunset. In limited visibility, the crew failed to realize he was flying at an insufficient altitude. Some 55 meters before the middle marker, the airplane struck tree tops then sank and struck successively a telegraphic pole, a wooden fence and a hangar before crashing in flames 85 meters after the middle marker. Three crew members were killed while the radio navigator was seriously injured. Three days later, the only survivor died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported the crew apparently started the descent prematurely for unknown reason.